PESHAWAR: Traders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have warned of renewed nationwide protests if the government does not immediately end the ongoing smart lockdown and restrictions on business hours.
In a joint press release, President Tanzeem Tajran KP Malik Mehr Elahi and President Peshawar Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industries Shakeel Ahmed Saraf demanded that Prime Minister announce the end of lockdown without delay, citing the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
Traders said the country’s fragile economy can no longer bear restrictions. They argued that prolonged economic stagnation and inflation have left the public with no purchasing power.
Leaders said the real shopping hours in summer are 7:00 pm to 11pm. Forcing shops to close at 8:00 pm, they claimed, is “equivalent to making the business community unemployed.”
The government’s claim that 8pm closure saves petrol is “completely wrong,” they said. Traders buy the most expensive electricity from 7-11pm, generating revenue for the state. If the government wants to save fuel, it should end free petrol and other perks for the elite and government officers immediately.
Malik Mehr Elahi said a functioning business cycle is essential to improve the national economy. “The government must make trader-friendly decisions immediately, otherwise the business community will be forced into severe protests,” the statement warned.
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